Basic Puppy Care : Correcting Aggressive Puppy Behaviors

[elBSTOEable84]

I swear people think everything is abuse these days..

[Velenovsky]

It is shameful for a veterinarian (or someone pretending to represent the vet industry) to give such erroneous advice. Check with AVMA and AVSAB and ACVB to get better advice. This should be removed as it is equivalent to malpractice.

[K9CHAT]

What a load of (poo) this vet talks!

[megzbully]

Don't be fooled, this type of human behavior WILL cause your dog to become MORE aggressive.

This "vet" obviously has NO behavioral knowledge whatsoever, and his veterinary license should be revoked for providing inappropriate training suggestions to people. He obviously has no expertise or information in the area of behavior.

[saranebe]

Holy crap!!!! How to make your puppy fearful - aggressive - shut down - mistrust you. What the hell?

Tommorrow I shall be making a video on how to neuter your dog. Please Mr vet stick to the medical stuff and leave the behaviour stuff to the behaviourists.

[pjl973]

this made my German shepherd puppy more aggressive

[lcjacobs02]

Yea, hold your puppy down until they poop pee and cry! Great way to build build your relationship with your new puppy.

[Gmancrap]

Eh, it takes a man to raise a pup to a dog. Something not everybody can do...

[MrKh76]

So, to the people who are critisizing this technique! Instead of JUST your negetive input, maybe post a better way of correcting aggresive behaviour! Or maybe your clueless and just assuming?? I would love to know

[montallio]

@MrKh76 There is a lot of advice posted before yours so read it ;-). And yes, this advice is dangerous. With puppy's you might get away with it, but if your dog grows up big and strong and really is a 'dominant' type and decides not to take it, you WILL loose. And If he isn't that stubborn, you don't need to do this in the first place. If there is any general advice for handling true dog aggression (growling doesn't have to be), it's that agression breeds agression.

[harveythepooka]

Wow! I have a 4 month old puppy and this WORKED! Nothing seemed to work to get her to stop biting and pulling on my clothes and after only 1 day I can see a big difference, she still bit me a few times but no where near at much.

[1Keara]

I'm going to try this with my puppy. I don't think this is a bad idea. I've tried all the more "gentle" approaches and they just don't work (Trust me I've read them all!!). I have a pup that will one day be a big dog and I don't want her to take over and strong arm everyone in the family once she's big enough. Also, we have a small child she sometimes lunges at and snaps at his face. That's not going to fly in my house.

[HeartdogGSD]

@1Keara So, how'd that go for you? Do you still have your puppy? This advice is SO stupid and dangerous :( A dog that lunges and snaps at a child has a bad temperament, and all the punishing and scaring them is not going to change that. Dogs communicate in the only way they know how, and to us, we label it things like "dominance" and "aggression". Often it's a sign of their fears.If you were scared, and some big huge person held you down by your neck til you defecated, would it make you less so?

[Spazzcopter]

Oh good grief. This video should be renamed "How to Make a Puppy Aggressive."

[eggiweggs]

@Spazzcopter All dogs are different. My puppy does not respond to any gentle approaches..at all. I have bite marks everywhere and I've never hurt him. This works for my puppy! He was really aggressive before this...not play biting but actually attacking me for nothing. Now he just calms down and becomes gentle again.. but maybe it works more for the more dominant, stubborn breeds...So no, i don't think this will make them more aggressive.

[cjwright79]

I am extremely impressed with the good doctor's wisdom. He reaches similar conclusions to Cesar Milan.

[TheMrRind]

i have 3 months puppy but not getting my order

what can i do...?

[stevenz207]

my dog is getting worse i have done every thing evvvery thing and he sees it as bullS hes gets angrier its getting so bad my girl like raises her hand like she's gonna hit him and gives him a little spank but ievery thing is makeing him more aggressive hes a 10 week old lab/boxer rescue dog email me wit tips or help plllllease markastevenz@yahoo.com

[TheMrSion]

I have a 13 week old American Bulldog and for the most part he responds very well to clicker training, but sometimes he gets over excited/aggressive and the clicker DOESN'T work.

Now, i'm no animal behaviourist but it makes complete logic sense the method he describes. I want to always ensure im at the top of the hierarchy in my house and putting the puppy into a submissive state does this - i dont hurt the dog at all I just calm him down - much in the same way a doorman does with a rowdy drunk

[sabumitz]

What century is this guy living in? Dog training has moved on, maybe you should as well.

[Maralo1]

This man is an idiot. Perhaps the least schooled "behavior expert" I've ever seen. I wonder if he reads? There's all sorts of actual science out there to help him learn actual facts.

DO NOT DO WHAT THIS GUY SAYS! HE IS WRONG, AND YOU WILL SCREW UP YOUR DOG.

[aes620hb2]

15 mins! no wonder this never works with my dog i usually stop at about 2 minutes cuz i think he gets the point but ill be sure to be relentless xD

[SundaeTheKitten]

Dang! That's why my dog bites random strangers!

[TheBluefirewolf]

most of the vid is correct, but i disagree on the part of not leaving an animal alone, thats only for dogs what about wild animals?? see what i mean

[flagwaver1969]

Finally some sense. I use this technique as well and it works far better than bumping the dog on the chin, holding the cheek, or holding the muzzle.

[ZanyZoey411]

CAMIV68, feel free to send me a message if you need any more help. I'm not a certified dog trainer but I've raised my own problematic dogs and I have extensively studied and applied positive reinforcement training methods. I train all my dogs using treats and a clicker, and then I gradually fade the treats until the dogs are able to respond only to a vocal command, with vocal praise and petting as a reward.

[ZanyZoey411]

I would work primarily with "Drop it" and "Take it" commands. Try my suggestion of cycling two bully sticks. Start by sitting near him and grabbing for the toy from an angle where he can see you. The point is to let him know that if even if you take something he wants, if he waits for it, he will get it back. If he does particularly well during a trade-off, I would even "jackpot" him with a handfull of treats all at once (fed from your hand, if he won't get aggressive).

[ZanyZoey411]

There's a difficult balance to uphold. You want the puppy to know that the toy ultimately belongs to you, but you don't want to be so forecful that you scare him and make him more rebellious/protective. If the problem is only when he's approached from above, it may be that he's very unconfident about having people out of his line of sight. You could try to desensitize him to people grabbing or touching him from above while he has a high value treat (not the bully stick) -- again, chicken works.

[GDL188]

this is wrong all it does is teach your dog that you are better and stronger than it...as soon as another person tries this the dog will react the same way and may be more vicious because its expecting the person to try and hold them down.....im shocked expert village has posted this.

[reenawithdogs]

Archaic advice by an old-school vet who graduated in 1979. Expert Village needs to find a real expert in canine behavior modification.

[ZanyZoey411]

If the puppy is being aggressive (snapping, growling, guarding toys), and he is small enough that you can withstand a bite, deliberately take the object that the puppy is guarding away from him. YOU are the keeper of the toys, and his aggressive behavior does nothing to keep you from taking possession of what is actually yours. From then on, in order to get the toys, the dog must approach you. Make toys a reward for good behavior, and take them away if the puppy is being possessive.

[ZanyZoey411]

Please be aware, if you are going to implement the technique used in this video. It is called the "alpha roll." Look it up, and look up the reasons why it is proven not to be successful for permanently curbing aggressive behavior. The next time your puppy bites you when he is playing too hard, make a loud, high-pitched yelping noise, while turning your back on the dog quickly and folding your arms. Play time stops when the puppy is being rough!

[axrt]

I can see that we all have agressive puppies (mine is a 6 weeks old lab and insists on biting my feet and hands, i can't control him) Please help!

[NVB1234]

my dog is a 7 week old lab and its growls and bites everybody on hands and feet. the dog made me bleed TWICE the finger and across my wrist... and i tried every thing, i never abuse it or anything...

but i got it from a stranger when it was 5 weeks old so i hope this technique works...

[happydancetime]

I held my puppy down and he calmed down. once I let him go he jumped at me with his teeth ready.

I thought Shih Tzu's were naturally friendly. =.=

[topshelf1961]

help stop puppy mills by not buying any dogs from the b &i and outher petstores copy this to help stop pupy mills

[mi805]

I just bought a husky, she's 1 month and a week old and i do put her down like that even if she crys she's bitten me and my boyfriend and did make uf bleed

she get's so agresive that i want to get rid of because i don't see any progress

[ZanyZoey411]

Unfortunately, you got your puppy when it was very young, so it never had a chance to go through a critical social development period where it would learn bite inhibition from its mother and littermates. The alpha roll often makes sensitive or defensive dogs even worse, so stop doing it! Figure out when she bites you most. Is it when she's playing? When she's guarding food, treats, or toys? If she's guarding objects/food, take control of those things.

[ZanyZoey411]

If you leave food down for your dog all the time, start picking up the food and set up designated meal times for your puppy. You are the keeper of all the good things for your dog. She must approach you to get her toys for playtime (use them as a reward for coming to you), she must sit before you put her food bowl down, and she must wait at the door so that you can walk outside first. These things are very subtle, but important for signaling your position as leader to your dog.

[CAMIV68]

We have a 13 week old golden, and he obeys commands, sits and waits for the "go" command when food is down, waits to go through doorways until allowed, we give and take food with no problem, give and takes every toy with no problem.. Except at times, with a bully stick, he becomes EXTREMELY aggressive. If seated by his side, he gives and takes with no problem, but when coming from over the top, or if moving him he attacks.

[CAMIV68]

Taking the stick away doesn't help once the switch has been flipped. Once the stick is gone, the behavior remains. He bites very hard, drawing blood. How can these behaviors be corrected after all the tips here have been implemented successfully, but the behavior remains?

[ZanyZoey411]

My suggestion would be to figure out what makes your puppy "tick." What's most important to him, your attention, or the toy? You can try to make a trade by picking up another high-value toy (even a second bully stick). Sit a few feet from your puppy, and make a lot of fuss over the second toy. Sort of to say, "Ooooh, look at this! Wow, this is so fun!" Turn it over in your hands, toss it up in the air, and make it LOOK more desirable than the stick your puppy is holding.

[ZanyZoey411]

If your puppy abandons the bully stick to come over to you, use the command "Drop it" as soon as the bully stick leaves his mouth. Then offer the second toy and say "Take it" when he puts his mouth on it. -- A second method is to find a high value treat, such as some chicken or hot dog. Toss the treat a few feet from the pupp while he's holding the bully stick, and when he drops the bully stick to get the treat, you can use the "Drop it" command.

[ZanyZoey411]

You can then decide whether you want to pick up the bully stick and ask him to sit or perform some other behavior in order to earn the treat from you, although some dogs become distrustful of the "Drop it" command if they think you're going to take it. The point is to create a safe environment where the puppy feels like it's okay to share what he considers "his" property with you. -- A third method is to give the puppy the bully stick when he's in a room that has doors which can be closed.

[ZanyZoey411]

When the puppy growls or becomes possessive in any way over the bully stick, walk out and close the door behind you. Listen for sounds of your puppy getting up, abandoning the bully stick, and maybe whining because you've left him alone. If this happens, come back in with a treat, ask him to sit or perform some other behavior, then reward and praise. A puppy can't compete with someone who's not there. This may not work, though, if the puppy is so wrapped up in the toy that he doesn't notice.

[CAMIV68]

Thanks for your response. I don't believe he cares about attention when he's got the stick. Also, we have no problem getting the stick from his mouth, especially when he knows we have a treat for him. The problem comes when he's approached from over his back, or if his body is being moved while the stick is in his mouth. I'm not concerned with my safety or anyone who's in the house, I'm concerned about the little kids who might surprise him if he's come across an object he likes.

[CAMIV68]

I truly do not want to have to physically dominate him to make him calm down and for him to know he can't act that way, but at times he's so violent that it scares me to think of him out of the house with an object that he loves. He's a very very sweet dog, and he obeys very well for his age. He catches on quickly, but this aggressive behavior seems to come out of nowhere. He's been doing the same thing since we got him.

[ZanyZoey411]

You should be concerned about what your dog may do to a small child, especially once he grows into his adult size. Sadly, Golden Retriever bite incidents are high in the US. This is due to poor breeding standards and the fact that there are so many of them. If a breeder cares more about looks than temperment, it's possible that you could have gotten a dog with a tendency towards aggression. When we select for temperment, what we're actually breeding for is low adrenaline levels.

[ZanyZoey411]

Train for about 10 minutes at a time, several times a day. Make it a fun game, if possible. You want the jackpot reward to be so valuble that it outweighs the value of the bully stick momentarily. As soon as you're able to break through that obsessive item possession, he will begin learning. Sometimes emotional responses overwhelm the ability of an animal (or human) to learn. Gradually adjust the angle that you grab for the toy, until you are reaching over him. This may take days, or weeks.

[ZanyZoey411]

You want the gradual adjustments of your reach to be so minor that he hardly notices. If he has an aggressive response, back up to a step that worked for you, where he was not aggressive, and start from there. Also, make sure your voice and mood are happy. Dogs are very good at reading body language, too, so try to be confident but relaxed in your posture. Remember, the trade off should be something that your puppy WANTS to do, because you've shown him how fun it can be.

[ZanyZoey411]

A final alternative may be to not allow the puppy to have bully sticks anymore if they seem to be the only type of toy that elicits such aggressive behavior. However, if you remove the bully sticks from your home and the behavior is transferred to another toy entirely, then you should probably look into hiring a licensed canine behaviorist or veterinarian to help you solve the issue. Neutering can sometimes mellow out male dogs.

[MrBrightStar01]

I have a 5 month old doberman and i use this technique and i know it works well. My vet told me to hold the scruff of his neck to the ground with his legs away from me and touch all four paws until he summits by exposing his underside. This has worked out great for me.

[ophy4]

my puppy wasn't scared at all. when i did this, she quieted down after a minute but as soon as i let her go, she came back at me for revenge. She was snarling and lunged at my face. I have bite marks all over my face, neck and hands to prove it. if i stand up. she attacks my feet. i swear i own the worst puppy in the world.

[AshleyAshH]

my dog is two in may amd he isnt aggresive to me , just my brother when my brother is annoying me or my dog or is acting silly, he has bit him quite a few times but hasnt had any serious injurs.he can be so quite at times more times than he is agressive, we were very strict with him when he was a puppy but he has been like that all the time , if someone trys to lift him while he is sleeping he could snap. he is miniture jack russel , please help!

[Iba92]

Lool well dogs dont like beeing picked up when they are asleep, and nearther would you. and for the biting you have 2 b the packd leader watch some dog wisperer episodes lol :]

[AshleyAshH]

He Died

[jeepntomboy]

Great advice. This is exactly what we have done in the past and we have never had aggressive dogs as adults. We have owned everything from Pitts to Rotts to Yorkies to Bullmastiff dogs. Glad to know that I have been doing things right all these years.

[nolanerunner]

now wait a minute here!

alpha roll is ok if the dog is tiny

try doing this to a big pup - i think this is dangerous advice - u can actually turn it into a more aggressive dog